trait

[ treyt; British also trey ]
/ treɪt; British also treɪ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR trait ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a distinguishing characteristic or quality, especially of one's personal nature: bad traits of character.
a pen or pencil stroke.
a stroke, touch, or strain, as of some quality: a trait of pathos; a trait of ready wit.

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Origin of trait

1470–80; < Middle French: literally, something drawn < Latin tractus. See tract1

Words nearby trait

trainmaster, trainshed, trainsick, trainspotterish, traipse, trait, traitor, traitorous, traitress, trajan, traject
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to trait

trick, habit, attribute, quirk, character, feature, peculiarity, oddity, virtue, idiosyncrasy, quality, manner, birthmark, custom, cast, savor, point, mannerism, mark, thing

Example sentences from the Web for trait

British Dictionary definitions for trait

trait
/ (treɪt, treɪ) /

noun

a characteristic feature or quality distinguishing a particular person or thing
rare a touch or stroke

Word Origin for trait

C16: from French, from Old French: a pulling, from Latin tractus, from trahere to drag
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for trait

trait
[ trāt ]

n.

A genetically determined structure, attribute, or function.
A distinct pattern of behavior.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for trait

trait
[ trāt ]

A genetically determined characteristic or condition. Traits may be physical, such as hair color or leaf shape, or they may be behavioral, such as nesting in birds and burrowing in rodents. Traits typically result from the combined action of several genes, though some traits are expressed by a single gene.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.